Maktorion

Maktorion (monte Bubbonia)

A wonderful place from a landscape point of view, at 595 meters above sea level, this was perhaps the seat of the ancient Sicani city, Maktorion, from the 8th century BC. Whether or not, Mount Bubbonia was later occupied by the Siceliots (Greeks of Sicily) and its ruins are, in fact, of that period (6th – 7th century BC).
Triumphant, as always with these inland archeological mountains, is its naturalistic and agricultural landscape. Just getting there is exalting. The peak dominates over a large area. It rises in the east, passing among the few remains of the wall; on the Acropolis (the western part of the summit’s plateau) there are interesting remains of what must have been a temple, and where the Gorgon in the photo was found.
There isn’t much, but it is still a beautiful place, surrounded by eucalyptus trees and with a great panorama.
On the eastern slopes of the mountain is a necropolis where one can see a beautiful 2.20 meters long dolmen “chamber”. It was certainly the tomb of an illustrious person.

Bubbonia returned an amazing amount of archeological material including amphorae, bowls, a crater with red figures representing the struggle between Apollo and Hercules for the possession of the Delphic tripod, alabaster, a skyphoide cup with black figures, and a beautiful red figure kylix with Herakles running inside. So, alongside the traditional Sicilian vessels, typically Greek vases predominated. It is easy to assume that this site was completely Hellenized by the end of the 6th century.